EP3292593A1

EP3292593A1 - Electrical connection arrangement

Info

Publication number: EP3292593A1
Application number: EP16709462.2A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Uwe Liskow
Original assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
Current assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
Priority date: 2015-05-06
Filing date: 2016-03-11
Publication date: 2018-03-14
Anticipated expiration: 2036-03-11
Also published as: DE102015208413A1; US20180151968A1; CN107535061A; EP3292593B1; KR20180002651A; WO2016177496A1

Abstract

The invention proposes an electrical connection arrangement (10) which has an electronics module (122), comprising an electronic circuit (16) which is arranged on a mounting area (17) of a printed circuit board element (14), and a flexible conductor foil (36) with conductor tracks (42) accommodated between a base layer (38) and a covering layer (40), wherein the electronic circuit is at least partially covered by a protective mass (18) in order to provide protection against environmental influences. The electronics module has a plurality of contact plates (20) which are arranged next to one another and which each have a contact end (26) which projects away from a flank (24) of the electronics module, wherein the contact ends of the contact plate are each electrically conductively connected to a conductor track of the conductor foil. The connection arrangement is distinguished in that a projection (28) is formed by the protective mass (18) at the flank (24) of the electronics module (12), the contact ends (26) of the contact plates (20) and at least one subregion (44) of the conductor foil being supported on the said projection. This results in a robust and compact connection arrangement.

Description

description

Electrical connection arrangement Field of the invention

The invention relates to an electrical connection arrangement, which has a contacted with a flexible conductor foil electronic module. In particular, the invention relates to an electrical connection arrangement with an electronic module for a transmission control unit of a motor vehicle.

State of the art

For controlling transmissions, in particular automatic transmissions, in one

Motor vehicle electronics modules are used, which is usually a

Transmission control unit with a transmission control unit (TCU), at least one connector for connection to a

Vehicle wiring harness, electrical interfaces for driving actuators and at least one sensor element.

In particular, the electronic control of the transmission control unit is often used to protect against environmental influences, such as a gear fluid surrounding the transmission control unit and / or the electronic module, with a protective mass,

For example, a plastic compound made of thermoset or thermoplastic, molded and / or ummoldet.

The electronic modules and / or the transmission control units can be contacted, for example, by means of a printed circuit board element, a stamped grid and / or a conductor foil. DE 10 2010 039 187 A1 describes an electrical connection arrangement with an electronic module which is contacted with a flexible flat cable, wherein the flat cable between a contact plate and a housing projection of the electronic module is largely powerless pluggable.

Disclosure of the invention

Advantages of the Invention Embodiments of the present invention may advantageously enable a robust, flexible and virtually distortion-free electrical

Connecting arrangement, in particular for a transmission control unit of a

Motor vehicle to provide. According to one aspect of the invention, an electrical connection arrangement is proposed, which has an electronic module with an electronic circuit arranged on a mounting surface of a printed circuit board element and a flexible conductor foil with conductor tracks accommodated between a base layer and a cover layer. The mounting surface of the printed circuit board element and the electronic circuit are protected by a protective compound

Environmental influences at least partially, preferably completely, covered. The electronic module has a plurality of juxtaposed

Contact plates, such as contact pins, on, each having a protruding from an edge of the electronic module contact end, wherein the contact ends of the contact plates are each electrically conductively connected to a conductor track of the conductor foil. The connection arrangement according to the invention is characterized in particular in that on the flank of the electronic module a shoulder is formed by the protective compound on which the contact ends of the contact sheets and at least a portion of the conductor foil are supported.

The contact ends and / or the subregion of the conductor foil can, for example, be fully supported on the heel. The paragraph may denote a formed by the protective ground edge of the electronic module. The paragraph may also be formed on a plurality of flanks. Also, the paragraph can Circulate electronic module on an outer circumference of the electronic module and / or enclose, for example, a ring.

The connection arrangement and / or the electronic module can be used in particular in gearbox control units and be designed to from a

Transmission fluid to be lapped, wherein the protective mass may be designed to protect the electronic circuit against the surrounding this gear transmission fluid. The electronic circuit may be part of a transmission control unit for a

Be gearbox control unit.

By means of the connection arrangement according to the invention, a flat, compact and space-saving contacting of the electronic module with the flexible conductor foil can be provided. Overall, such a compact connection arrangement for a transmission control unit can be provided. Furthermore, the contact ends of the contact sheets and / or contact points at which the contact ends can be connected to the conductor tracks of the conductor foil can be comprehensively and reliably protected against short circuits, for example by conductive chips and / or deposits of the transmission fluid surrounding the connection arrangement can be caused.

Furthermore, due to the flexibility of the conductor foil, which e.g. limp and / or can be carried out with a relief shaft in the longitudinal direction, thermomechanical changes in length, such as thermal expansion and / or Bi- metal effects of the connection assembly, as well as shifts and / or

Vibrations of components of the connection arrangement do not act as shear, bending, tensile and / or compressive forces on the electrical contact points between the conductor foil and the contact plates. The contact points may, for example, have a soldering, welding and / or conductive adhesive connection, which may accordingly be robust, stress-free and virtually free of distortion.

Also, the connection arrangement according to the invention and / or the contacting of the contact sheets with the conductor foil an automatable assembly of

Allow connection arrangement and a simple variant management. According to one embodiment of the invention, the contact ends of the

Contact plates on the heel on. For example, the contact ends can rest over the entire surface of the shoulder and be supported. In this way, mechanical loads acting on the contact points can be further reduced.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the contact ends are each at least partially received in a recess formed in the paragraph.

For example, the contact ends may be received in the wells such that a contact surface of the contact ends may terminate flush with a surface of the ledge.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the contact ends of the contact plates are each soldered to a conductor track of the conductor foil, welded and / or adhesively bonded by means of conductive adhesive.

According to one embodiment of the invention is at the contact ends of

Contact plates each arranged a welding hump and / or a solder deposit. In this way, the printed conductors and the contact ends can be formed, for example, by the closed base or cover layer of the conductor foil, e.g. welded with a laser, connected by means of ironing and / or by pressing. The weld boss and / or the solder deposit can have approximately the thickness of the base and / or the cover layer of the conductor foil, so that the conductor tracks can be reliably contacted. The solder deposit and / or the weld hump may have a thickness of about 10 to 100 μηι.

According to one embodiment of the invention, in each case at least one contact region of each conductor track is exposed by removing the cover layer or the base layer of the conductor foil in the partial region of the conductor foil supported on the shoulder and electrically conductively connected to one contact end of a contact plate.

For example, recesses and / or slots in the cover or base layer of the conductor foil can be introduced at the contact regions, the cover layer or base layer being present between the conductor tracks, i. not worn, can be.

According to one embodiment of the invention, in the portion of the conductor foil which is supported on the shoulder, the cover layer or the base layer of the conductor foil is intended for Contact the traces with the contact plates completely removed. In other words, the conductor foil in the subregion can have only the conductor tracks and the base layer or only the conductor tracks and the cover layer. According to one embodiment of the invention, the contact plates are each having an end opposite the contact end on the mounting surface of the

PCB element arranged, wherein the ends with a transverse to

Longitudinal direction of the contact plates extending and the contact plates are at least partially spanned crossbars mounted on the mounting surface. The arranged on the mounting surface ends of the contact plates can in the

Be embedded or covered by this protective mass. The cross bar can be made of an electrically insulating material. By means of the cross bar, the contact plates can be further mechanically stabilized and robustness of

Connection arrangement can be increased.

According to one embodiment of the invention, a depression is formed in the shoulder between two directly adjacent contact ends, or between two directly adjacent contact ends a partition wall is formed by the shoulder. The recess and / or the partition wall can serve as chip protection, so that conductive chips or deposits do not settle on two adjacent contact ends and can thereby short-circuit them.

According to one embodiment of the invention, a projection is arranged on the printed circuit board element, which at least partially engages in positioning the conductor foil into a positioning recess introduced into the conductor foil. This can in particular simplify automated assembly and joining of the connection arrangement.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the conductor foil is adhesively bonded in at least one subregion to the electronic module and / or to the shoulder. Such a mechanical stability of the connection arrangement can be further increased.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the electrical

Connecting arrangements at contact points or connecting areas between the contact ends of the contact sheets and the conductor foil at least partially from one Covered polymer composition for protection against environmental influences, the

Polymer composition contains an epoxy resin-based, an acrylate-based, a polyurethane-based, a polyester-based and / or a silicone-based material. As a result, the contact points can be additionally protected against environmental influences.

Another aspect of the invention may be a method of making a

electrical connection arrangement, as described above and below, and / or relate to an electronic module contacted with a conductor foil. It should be understood that some of the possible features and advantages of the connector assembly are described herein with reference to different embodiments. One skilled in the art will recognize that the features may be suitably combined, adapted, or interchanged to others

To arrive embodiments of the invention.

Brief description of the drawings

Embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which neither the drawings nor the description are to be construed as limiting the invention.

Fig. 1A shows a section through an electrical connection arrangement according to an embodiment of the invention. Fig. 1B shows a conductor foil of the connection arrangement of Fig. 1 A.

Fig. 2A shows a section through an electrical connection arrangement according to an embodiment of the invention. Fig. 2B shows a conductor foil of the connection arrangement of Fig. 2A.

Fig. 3A shows a section through an electrical connection arrangement according to an embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 3B shows a conductor foil of the connection arrangement of Fig. 2A. FIG. 3C is a detail view of a portion of the connector assembly of FIG. 3A. FIG.

4A to 5B show a detailed side view of an electronic module for an electrical connection assembly according to embodiments of the invention.

The figures are only schematic and not to scale. Same

Reference numerals in the figures designate the same or equivalent features. Embodiments of the invention

Fig. 1A shows a section through an electrical connection assembly 10 according to an embodiment of the invention. Fig. 1B shows a conductor foil 36 of

Connecting arrangement of Fig. 1 A.

The connection arrangement 10 has an electronic module 12 with a

Printed circuit board element 14, wherein on a mounting surface 17 of the

Printed circuit board element 14, an electronic circuit 16 is arranged. The

Printed circuit board element 14 may be e.g. a high-density interconnect (HDI), a printed circuit board (PCB), and / or other circuit substrate such as ceramic (LTCC, HTCC). The electronic circuit 16 may comprise electronic components, such as packaged and / or unhoused silicon devices, sensor elements, connectors, surface mounted devices (SMD), and / or other devices. The electrical interconnect assembly 10 may also include a plurality of circuit board elements 14 . The

Printed circuit board element 14 is arranged with one of the mounting surface 17 opposite side or surface on a support member 15, such as a support plate made of metal and / or ceramic material, arranged and / or fixed. In particular, the electronic circuit 16 may be part of a transmission control unit for a transmission control unit of a motor vehicle. Further, the electronic circuit 16 may be configured to be surrounded by a transmission fluid. For this purpose, the electronic circuit 16 and the mounting surface 17 are at least partially, preferably completely, with a protective mass 18 for protection against

Environmental influences and / or against transmission fluid covered. The protective mass 18 can be about polymer-based and / or thermoset material, thermoplastic material, silicone-based material, polyurethane, acrylic-based material,

contain polyester-based and / or acrylate-based material. The electronic module 12 has a plurality of contact plates 20 for electrically contacting the electronic module 12 and / or the electronic circuit 16. The contact sheets are fixed to the mounting surface 17 at one end 22 and are electrically contacted, e.g. soldered, welded and / or glued using conductive adhesive. The contact plates 20 also each have one of a flank 24 of the

Electronic module 12 abragendes contact end 26, which opposite to the end 22 in the longitudinal direction of the contact plates 20. It can also be arranged on a plurality of flanks 24 of the electronic module 12 at least one contact plate 20. Directly adjacent and juxtaposed contact plates 20 may be substantially parallel to each other and protrude with the contact ends 26 of the respective edge 24 of the electronic module 12.

The electronic module 12 further has on the flank 24 a shoulder 28 formed by the protective compound 18, on which the contact ends 26 of the contact plates 20 are respectively supported. The shoulder 28 can be arranged on an edge 24 or on a plurality of flanks 24 of the electronic module 12. Also, the shoulder 28 may circumnavigate and / or encircle the electronics module 12 along an outer circumference such that the carrier plate 15, the printed circuit board element 14, and / or the electronic circuit 16 are protected by the shoulder 28 from lateral entry of transmission fluid into the electronics module 12 can.

In the embodiment shown in Fig. 1A, the contact ends 26 of the contact plates 20 are each arranged and / or received in a recess 30 of the shoulder 28. The contact ends 26 may be arranged approximately in such a way in the recesses 30 that a contact surface 32 of the contact ends 26 each in

Substantially flush with a surface 34 of paragraph 28 concludes.

The electrical connection arrangement 10 furthermore has a conductor foil 36 which has conductor tracks 42 accommodated and / or arranged between a base layer 38 and a cover layer 40. The cover layer 40 may alternatively or additionally be a lacquer and / or have a lacquer. The conductor foil 36 is overall flexible and / or limp and configured and may for example designate a flexible printed circuit board and / or a flex foil.

The contact ends 26 of the contact sheets 20 are each electrically conductively connected to a conductor 42 of the conductor foil 36 at a connection point or contact point 43. For example, the contact ends 26 are soldered to the strip conductors 42, welded and / or glued by conductive adhesive. For example, the

Contact ends 26 and the conductor tracks 42 are welded through the cover layer 40 and / or through the base layer 38 with a laser and / or contacted or connected by ironing and / or pressing.

In order to ensure a flat, compact and against gear fluid sealed contacting between the conductor foil 36 and the contact plates 20, as shown in Fig. 1B, a portion 44 of the cover layer 40 of the conductor foil 36 removed or removed, so that a contact portion 46 of Tracks 42 is exposed in the portion 44 and can be connected to the contact ends 26. Alternatively, the conductor foil 36 can also be reversed and a portion 44 of the base layer 38 can be removed. The portion 44 may indicate about one end of the conductor foil 36.

The conductor foil 38 is connected to the electronic module 12 in such a way that the

Partial 44 is at least partially supported on the shoulder 26 and / or rests on the paragraph 28, so that a flat and compact onward contact of the

Electronic module 12 may be given. Preferably, the portion 44 lies on the entire surface of the shoulder 28 and the contact ends 26.

A connection region 48 between the contact ends 26 of the contact sheets 20 and the conductor foil 36 may also be at least partially covered by a polymer compound for protection against environmental influences and / or transmission fluid. The polymer composition may include an epoxy resin-based, an acrylate-based, a polyester-based, a polyurethane-based, and / or a silicone-based material. Of the

In this case, connecting region 48 may in particular designate an interface between conductor foil 36 and electronic module 12 and may include, for example, partial region 44 of conductor foil 36 and contact ends 26. The polymer composition can be crosslinked or cured, for example, by energy radiation (eg UV light) and / or heat become. Further, the portion 44 of the conductor foil 36 may be at least partially bonded to the electronic module 12 and / or with the shoulder 28, so that no

Transmission fluid can penetrate to the contact ends 26 and / or the contact points 43.

For positioning and / or automated joining of electrical

Connecting arrangement 10, the circuit board element 14 further comprise a Abragung, which can at least partially engage in an introduced into the conductor foil 36 Positionierausnehmung. It can also be provided a plurality of Abragungen and Positionierausnehmungen.

Fig. 2A shows a section through an electrical connection assembly 10 according to an embodiment of the invention. Fig. 2B shows a conductor foil 36 of

Connecting arrangement 10 of Fig. 2A. Unless otherwise described, the connector assembly 10 of FIG. 2A and the conductor foil 36 of FIG. 2B may be the same

Elements and features have the same as the connection arrangement 10 or conductor foil 36 described in the preceding figures.

In the embodiment shown in Figs. 2A and 2B, the contact ends 26 of the contact sheets 20 rest on the shoulder 28 and its surface 34, respectively. the contact ends 26 are not received in a recess 30 of the shoulder 28, as shown in Fig.l A shown. In order nevertheless to be able to ensure a flat contacting, the cover layer 40 is not completely removed in the subregion 44 of the conductor foil 36, but rather slots or recesses 47 are provided in the subregion 44

Cover layer 40 introduced so that the contact portions 46 of the tracks 42 are exposed and the contact ends 26 in each of the recesses 47 of the

Deckschickt 40 recorded and / or arranged. Between the contact ends 26, the cover layer 40 can thus rest on the surface 34 of the shoulder 28. Alternatively, the conductor foil 36 can also be turned over and the recesses 47 can be introduced into the base layer 38.

Fig. 3A shows a section through an electrical connection assembly 10 according to an embodiment of the invention. FIG. 3B shows a conductor foil 36 of FIG

Connecting arrangement 10 of Fig. 3A. 3C shows a detailed view of the

Connecting arrangement 10 of Fig. 3A. Unless otherwise stated, the 3A and the conductor foil 36 of FIG. 3B have the same elements and features as the connection arrangement 10 or conductor foil 36 described in the preceding figures. In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIGS. 3A to 3C, contact plates 26 are at the contact ends In each case, a welding boss 50 and / or a solder deposit 52 is arranged, via which the contact ends 26 are contacted with the conductor tracks 42 of the conductor foil 36. The contact ends 26 may either rest on the surface 34 of the shoulder 28 or be received in a recess 30 of the shoulder 28. In the subregion 44 of the conductor foil 36, furthermore, only one contact region 46 of each conductor 42 is exposed by removing the cover layer 40 or the base layer 38; for example, a recess 47 can be introduced into the cover layer 40 or the base layer 38 so that the contact regions 46 are exposed. The weld bumps 50 and / or the solder deposits 52 can each be received in one of the recesses 47. The weld bumps 52 may be formed by forming the contact ends 26, for example. The weld bumps 50 and / or the solder deposits 52 may have a thickness which may correspond substantially to a thickness of the cover layer 40 and / or the base layer 38, so that a reliable electrical connection can be established. By way of example, the weld bumps 50 and / or the solder deposits 52 can have a thickness of approximately 10 to 100 μm.

Next, the contact plates 20 and the ends 22 of the contact plates 20 are secured to the mounting surface 17 of the printed circuit board element 14 with a transverse to the longitudinal direction of the contact plates 20 extending and the contact plates 20 spanning electrically insulating cross bar 54. The cross bar 54 may be made of plastic and about a mechanical stability of

Increase connection arrangement 10.

4A and 4B show a detailed side view of an electronic module 12 for an electrical connection assembly 10 according to an embodiment of the invention

Invention. Unless otherwise described, the electronics module 12 of FIGS. 4A and 4B may have the same elements and features as the electronic modules 12 described in the previous figures. For protection against short circuits, such as by conductive chips or

Deposits of the electronics module 12 washing around transmission fluid

can be caused is between each two directly adjacent

Contact ends 26 a recess 56 formed in the shoulder 28 so that chips and / or deposits can settle in the recesses 56 without making a conductive connection between two contact plates 20. The depressions 56 can thus function as chip protection for the connection arrangement 10.

The recesses 56 can each have a width, which a

Distance between two directly adjacent contact ends 20 corresponds, as shown in Fig. 4A. Alternatively, the recesses 56 may have a width which is smaller than the distance between two directly adjacent contact ends 20, so that the contact ends are laterally adjacent to a material of the shoulder 28 and can be laterally in touching contact with the shoulder 28, as shown in Fig. 4B ,

5A and 5B show a detailed side view of an electronic module 12 for an electrical connection assembly 10 according to an embodiment of the invention

Invention. Unless otherwise described, the electronics module 12 of FIGS. 5A and 5B may have the same elements and features as the electronic modules 12 described in the previous figures.

As an alternative to the chip protection by recesses 56 described in FIGS. 4A and 4B, in the embodiments of FIGS. 5A and 5B a partition wall 58 is formed between the two directly adjacent contact ends 26 by the shoulder 28 so that chips and deposits do not form two adjacent contact ends 26

short circuit.

Similar to the depressions 56 of FIGS. 4A and 4B, the partition walls 58 may each have a width which is a distance of two directly adjacent

Contact ends 20 correspond, as shown in FIG. 5A, or they may have a width which is smaller than the distance between two directly adjacent contact ends 20, as shown in FIG. 5B.

Finally, it should be noted that terms such as "comprising", "comprising", etc., do not exclude other elements or steps, and terms such as "a" or " "A" do not preclude a plurality of reference numerals in the claims are not to be considered as limiting.

Claims

Claims 1. An electrical connection assembly (10), comprising:

an electronic module (122) having a mounting surface (17) of a

Printed circuit board element (14) arranged electronic circuit (16); and a flexible conductor foil (36) having conductor tracks (42) accommodated between a base layer (38) and a cover layer (40),

wherein the mounting surface of the printed circuit board element and the electronic circuit at least partially with a protective compound (18) for protection against

Environmental influences are covered,

wherein the electronic module has a plurality of juxtaposed

Contact plates (20), each one of a flank (24) of the

Electronic module have projecting contact end (26), and

wherein the contact ends of the contact sheets are each electrically conductively connected to a conductor track of the conductor foil,

characterized in that

on the flank (24) of the electronic module (12) a shoulder (28) through the protective compound (18) is formed, on which the contact ends (26) of the contact plates (20) and at least a portion (44) of the conductor foil are supported.

2. An electrical connection assembly (10) according to claim 1, wherein the contact ends (26) of the contact plates on the shoulder (28) rest; and or

wherein the contact ends each at least partially in one in the paragraph

formed recess (30) are included.

3. Electrical connection arrangement (10) according to one of the preceding

Claims, wherein the contact ends of the contact plates are each soldered to a conductor track of the conductor foil, welded and / or glued by conductive adhesive.

4. Electrical connection arrangement (10) according to one of the preceding

Claims, wherein at the contact ends of the contact plates in each case a Schweißbuckel (50) and / or a solder depot (52) is arranged.

5. Electrical connection arrangement (10) according to one of the preceding

Claims, wherein in the partial region (44) of the conductor foil supported on the shoulder (28) one contact area (46) of each conductor track is exposed by removing the cover layer (40) or the base layer (38) of the conductor foil and each having one contact end (26). a contact plate is electrically conductively connected.

6. Electrical connection arrangement (10) according to one of the preceding

Claims, wherein in the supported on the shoulder (28) portion (44) of the conductor foil, the cover layer (40) or the base layer (38) of the conductor foil to

Contact the traces with the contact plates is completely removed.

7. Electrical connection arrangement (10) according to one of the preceding

Claims, wherein the contact plates each with a contact end

opposite end (22) on the mounting surface (17) of the printed circuit board element (14) are arranged, and

the ends (22) extending transversely to the longitudinal direction of the contact plates and the contact plates spanning transverse bolt (54) on the

Mounting surface are attached.

8. Electrical connection arrangement (10) according to one of the preceding

Claims, wherein between two directly adjacent contact ends (26) one

Recess (56) is formed in the shoulder (28); or

wherein between two directly adjacent contact ends, a partition wall (58) is formed by the shoulder.

9. Electrical connection arrangement (10) according to one of the preceding

Claims, wherein on the circuit board element a Abragung is arranged, which engages for positioning the conductor foil at least partially in an inserted into the conductor foil Positionierausnehmung; and or

wherein the portion of the conductor foil is at least partially bonded to the electronic module and / or with the paragraph.

10. Electrical connection arrangement (10) according to one of the preceding

Claims, wherein the electrical connection arrangements on a

Connecting region (48) between the contact ends (26) of the contact plates and the Conductor foil is at least partially covered by a polymer compound for protection against environmental influences,

wherein the polymer composition contains an epoxy resin-based, an acrylate-based, a polyurethane-based, a polyester-based, and / or a silicone-based material.